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GARDEN GROVE — Pacifica’s softball program graduated a historic group of seniors last year but the Mariners still possess many of the essential qualities that produce victories.
Teamwork, composure and late-game execution were all on display Thursday as Pacifica rallied past visiting El Modena 3-2 to improve to 3-0 in the Crestview League.
Pacifica catcher Catherine Benitez (11) can’t hang on to the ball and El Modena’s Ava Savala (10) scores during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Kaitlyn Galasso (56) chases Pacifica’s Audrena Duran (20) back to first base during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Pacifica’s Ellena Ediss (7) pitching during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Jillian Alvarado (17) gets picked off first base by Pacifica’s Kloe Lobato (19) during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Kylie Tafua (14) pulls in a pop fly to the delight of pitcher Sara Pinedo (24) during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Pacifica’s Mattea Stern (3) tip toes across home with the game winning run as El Modena’s Parker Mayes (50) waits for the throw during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Pacifica’s players celebrate their one-run win over El Modena in a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Sara Pinedo (24) pitching during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Tom Seibert of Santa Ana works under full sails of a 40 x 100 foot mural on the side of the Pacifica High gym on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Fans keep warm by sharing a sweater in the cool late afternoon weather during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 10Pacifica catcher Catherine Benitez (11) can’t hang on to the ball and El Modena’s Ava Savala (10) scores during a softball game between El Modena High and Pacifica High in a Crestview League contest at Pacifica High School on March 27, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer) ExpandMattea Stern highlighted Pacifica’s three-run fifth inning with a two-run single.
Mariners pitcher Ellena Ediss didn’t allow a run in the final two innings as she recovered from a leadoff home run by Kaitlyn Galasso in the first to earn her third victory in the challenging league.
Highly-regarded players Stern and Ediss represent the new wave of leaders for the two-time defending CIF-SS Division 1 champion Mariners (9-4, 3-0), ranked No. 6 in Orange County.
“They know how to win and they don’t like to lose,” Mariners coach Tony Arduino said of his team, which features six returning starters. “We battled back. We don’t give up. Canyon was ranked ahead of us last week, and we knocked them off, and now (No. 3) El Modena, we knocked them off. I like playing that role.”
Pacifica wasn’t often in the underdog spot the past two seasons with standouts such as ace Brynne Nally (Long Beach State), Kaniya Bragg (UCLA), Delaina Ma’ae (UC Santa Barbara), Annika Sogsti (Cal State Fullerton) and Kayli Counts (Cal).
The Mariners’ staying power shined in Ediss (6-1). After Galasso launched a 2-0 fastball over the fence in right for her fifth home run, the UC Davis-committed senior settled down. She scattered five hits after the home run, walked one and struck out eight.
Ediss credited the success to her communication with catcher Catherine Benitez and lessons she learned from Nally.
“Just staying calm and trusting the process,” Ediss said. “(Nally and I) grew up together on the travel ball (circuit) so I just always watched her.”
Pacifica’s offense executed in the fifth to capitalize on two walks by Sara Pinedo (9-1) to open the inning.
No. 9 batter Abby Amezquita laid down a sacrifice bunt on her first pitch to bring Stern to the plate with runners at second and third with one out. The speedy leadoff batter promptly singled to center on the first pitch to tie the score 2-2.
On the next at-bat, Stern stole second and scored on an error.
“This year, we have to work as a team together,” Stern said. “Last year, we could just have a home run and we could be back in the game.”
Pacifica also executed on defense. The Mariners ended a threat in the sixth by turning a hard grounder to third into inning-ending double play by third baseman Brooklyn Reyes, second baseman Natalia Amezquita and first baseman Arianna Salas.
El Modena (11-3, 2-2) engineered a run in the fifth to open a 2-0 lead. No. 9 batter Jillian Alvarado singled to center with two out to score Ava Savala, who reached on a pinch-hit single and stole second.
“Nothing is going to be easy (in the Crestview),” El Modena coach Bobby Calderon said. “(We) got find a way to win these games, these close ones. There’s going to be a lot more of these in league.”
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